Virginia Zeani - A Birthday Celebration 21st October 2008

A celebration of the vast range and accomplishments of the great Romanian-Italian-American Soprano Virginia Zeani on the occasion of her 83rd Birthday

As with most of her recordings, each track is from a live performance. So there are sometimes the sounds of stage action and a curious balance between the voices.

It is a testament to Mme Zeani, as the most giving of performers, that in every piece there is an intensity and commitment to character which is very rare indeed.

She sang 68 major roles beginning as a Lyric Coloratura with roles such as Gilda and Amina and developing into a majestic italianate Spinto with Verdi's Aida and Elisabetta.

Never afraid to sing more modern roles, she was the first Blanche in "The Carmelites" and here sings Magda's heartbreaking outburst from "The Consul".

This version of the "Addio" from La Traviata has the added distinction of being completely unrehearsed. It is from her emergency Covent Garden Debut in which she substituted for the indisposed Joan Sutherland.

She sang after a sleepless night and a two flight journey from Vienna via Paris. As well as meeting the rest of the cast only as the performance went along, she had to conquer a not surprisingly sceptical audience. But she gave of her generous best and it was a triumph.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Virginia
• Zeani
• Italian
• Opera
• French
• Modern
• Verdi
• Rossini
• Massenet
• Menotti
• La
• Scala
• Milan

[basenjidiva]

Happy Birthday, Madame Zeani!

A magnificent tribute to a magnificent Diva, whose gifts we are able to celebrate, on her birthday, and always. May her birthday bring her but a portion of the joy she has brought to all of us; she will be well blessed.

Gioia!

With much gratitude to CharlotteinWeimar for providing this, and many other treasures, for our pleasure.

[luiscar89]

Happy Birthday Prima Donna. Tu sei una regina assoluta.

God bless you mia regina. I love this woman.

She never made commercial recordings but as I say, who cares, I doesn't prove anything.

She is among Callas, Sutherland, Gencer, Caballe one of the absolute Prima Donnas of the Golden Age of Opera.

Virginia is so humble and sweet, well I do not have enough words to express my love to this LADY.

[basenjidiva]

Absolutely gorgeous! Tanti auguri a te, mia cara Sorella!  Viva Virginia! You take my breath away...

[gabiritza]

Beautiful and touching, thank you! Check also Elena Cernei and Viorica Cortez, two beautiful voices and wonderful, high class artistic interpretation, also romanian and same generation as Virginia Zeani.

[Homoclassicus]

She has the quintessential Romanian voice, that mix of warmth and darkness that is so peculiar to their voices. A great artist of immense expressivity but also excellent taste, and a great versatility - not only meaning she sang many roles, but that she sang them and had all the necessary requirements to shine in them.

[robertdonkers]

A Wonderful artist and singer, shame she recorded virtually nothing. Another great singer forgotten by the record companies. Others Leyla Gencer, Pauline Tinsley, Magda Olivero.  Such a loss.

[bestcornishcat]

Marvellous! Such a tonic on a wet afternoon!

[Heraopera]

This is amazing and so wonderful!

BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVA!

Thanks for sharing¨

And all the best to all livelisteners and good hearts with ears and tears!

BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVA!

[skellybootle]

Bless you Virginia Zeani and CharlotteinWeimar! A breath of joy on this damp day near the Welsh border.

Stan Kelly-Bootle (scousestan)

[SINGINGOPERAFAN]

Happy Birthday Virginia Zeani !! You are for sure, one of the "greatest sopranos of the 20th century!!!!!!!"

Many Happy returns of the day!!!!!!!

[sirenadellopera]

Tanti auguri!